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Seattle climber dies after fall on Forbidden Peak

SEDRO WOLLEY, Wash. — A climber's body was recovered on Sunday in North Cascades National Park, according to park spokesman Ken Hires.

The climber, a Seattle resident, was 31 years old.

He summited Forbidden Peak via the West Ridge with a climbing partner on Saturday afternoon, Hires said, and was descending when he accidentally fell at 5:30 p.m.

"During the descent of a commonly-used gully using a series of rappels," Hires said, "the climber was hit by a falling rock, which triggered his fall of approximately 300 feet to a rock/glacier moat."

Hires said the climber was not anchored to the mountain when he was hit by the rock.

Several people were at the park when the man fell. Witnesses hiked out and notified National Park Service rangers of the fall at 10:30 p.m., according to Hires.

The man's body was recovered the next day with a helicopter by rangers.

The man's climbing partner, who was not injured, was assisted by another group of climbers down the mountain.

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